A weighing scale

Abstract

 The invention relates to a weighing scale 1, at least a part of the body 2 of which comprises a natural stone.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a weighing device, and particularly to such a device as a scale in the form of a personal weighing scale.

[0002] Personal weighing scales are used usually by users who stand on them with bare feet, and as such need to be hygienic, have a comfortable "feel", and aesthetic.

[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide such a scale.

[0004] According to the invention there is provided a scale, having at least a part of the body comprising a natural stone.

[0005] The scale may be a personal weighing scale at least part of the platform of which may comprise natural stone. This provides a hygienic scale.

[0006] A surface of the platform may suitably comprise natural stone.

[0007] Moreover, a base of the scale may comprise a natural stone. Thus a majority of the whole scale may be of natural stone.

[0008] The stone may be particulate and moulded to a desired shape with a binder, particularly a resin binder. This provides a relatively easily manufactured scale.

[0009] The natural stone may comprise granite, or a marble, or a durable slate.

[0010] The scale is suitably an electronic scale, which may include a housing including an LED and a viewing lens. The lens may be elliptical.

[0011] A scale embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a scale according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the scale of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view with a part of the top cut away to show the base;

Fig. 4 is a view from one end, partly in section along line A-A; and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view from the other end.

[0012] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a scale 1, in the embodiment a personal weighing or bathroom scale, at least a part of the body 2 of which comprises a natural stone.

[0013] The body 2 comprises a base 3 and a platform 4 which is designed to reciprocate substantially vertically with respect to the base 3 when a user stands on it to operate a weight sensing mechanism or device 5 so that the weight of the person can be read.

[0014] In the embodiment, the platform 4 and base 3 are formed from a natural stone, the stone being any natural stone product though a granite, a marble or a durable slate material are generally preferred.

[0015] The stone can be carved, or sculpted to a desired shape, but in a preferred scale the stone product is particulate and is moulded to a preferred shape with a binder such as a resin binder.

[0016] The base 3 has feet 6 for setting down on a support surface such as a floor. One foot 6' is hollow and houses electronic circuitry and the mechanism 5 such as a piezo-electric mechanism which on application of a weight displays that weight via an LED 7 which is viewed through an elliptical lens 8 in a housing 9 at one end of the scale 1. The housing 9 is of generally meniscus shape in section, as seen in Fig. 2.

[0017] The platform 4, being of stone is hygienic, has a comfortable "feel", and a pleasing natural aesthetic look.

[0018] It will be understood that only a surface of the platform may be stone, which may be applied to and secured to a non-stone underlying part of the platform.

Claims

1. A scale, including a body, characterised in that at least a part of the body comprises a natural stone.

2. A scale according to claim 1, comprising a personal weighing scale including a platform for bearing a user characterised in that at least part of the platform comprises natural stone.

3. A scale according to Claim 1, an upper, in use, surface of the platform comprising natural stone.

4. A scale according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, a base thereof comprising a natural stone.

5. A scale according to any preceding claim, the stone being particulate and moulded to a desired shape with a binder.

6. A scale according to Claim 5, the binder comprising a resin.

7. A scale according to any preceding claim, the natural stone comprising granite.

8. A scale according to Claims 1 to 6, the natural stone comprising a marble.

9. A scale according to Claims 1 to 6, the natural stone comprising a durable slate.

10. A scale according to any preceding claim, comprising an electronic scale.

11. A scale according to Claim 10, a housing including an LED and a viewing lens.

12. A scale according to Claim 11, the lens being elliptical.

13. A scale, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawing